PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The state of Pennsylvania is suing a suburban Philadelphia county that by Wednesday had issued 36 marriage licenses to gay couples despite a state ban on same-sex nuptials.
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Maggie George and Rebecca Voelkel have married each other twice, first ceremonially in their Minneapolis church in 2006, then legally while visiting San Francisco five years ago. Now the couple is mulling whether to do it all again — or to simply sleep through it — when gay marriage becomes legal in
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East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux's apology came only after his department drew fire for relying on a provision, struck down a full decade ago, to arrest at least a dozen gay men over the last two years.
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In a statement made on Monday, July 29, 2013, Pope Francis stated he wouldn't judge gay priests. Francis' comments stand in direct contrast to the views of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who said gay men should not be priests. NBC News' Anne Thompson reports.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops speaks about Pope Francis’ words about gay people, saying it hasn’t changed the Church’s views but the pope is simply reminding people to “treat everybody with dignity and respect.”

Pope Francis surprised the Catholic world when he responded, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay people in Rio, and many are welcoming what appears to be a change in attitude by the Church. NBC’s Anne Thompson reports.

Top Talkers: In a statement made on Monday, July 29, 2013, Pope Francis stated he wouldn't judge gay priests. Francis' comments stand in direct contrast to the views of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who said gay men should not be priests. The Morning Joe panel discusses and NBC News' Anne Thom

National Catholic Reporter Columnist Kate Childs Graham and Executive Director of New Ways Ministry Francis DeBernardo join Richard Lui to discuss comments made by Pope Francis on gay people in the Catholic Church and how his comments will impact American churches.

Related Photos

Police detain a gay rights activist during a Gay Pride event in St. Petersburg on June 29, 2013. Dozens of gay and lesbian rights activists and their supporters gathered for the event but were attacked by anti-gay protesters and later dispersed by the police.

Activists in support of same-sex unions shout slogans in front of the court in Bogota July 24, 2013, as judge legalised the civil union of same-sex couple. REUTERS/John Vizcaino (COLOMBIA - Tags: SOCIETY)